Over at New School Kaidan, I write a few words about some of the recently released promotional videos. At times, this is a bit of a grueling task, and all of my thoughts can get a little scattered when multiple PVs are released on the same day. But, I always try to present the promotional videos in the best light possible, and I try to remember that each of these pieces of entertainment for your a me is actually the manifestation of a dream for some young girl or girls out there in Japan. Here then is a collection of those write-ups, with a few words sometimes added after a week+ of viewing.

After a half-year wait, Juice=Juice release the opening promotional video to their ninth single “Jidanda Dance / Feel Kanjiru yo”. Don’t be fooled by the Hello! Project house sound with its synthy leads, retro guitars, and Tsunku-esque interjections: “Jidanda Dance” features lyrics by Kodama Ameko and a BLACC HOLE & NOBB-D composition. The girls sing about the frustrations of mundane tragedies and the need to cut loose, festival style. The variety of shots used in this PV really catch my attention. The director, Inoue Takashi, must have felt free to really explore the shoot location and chose hallways, staircases, and an expansive foyer for the bulk of “Jidanda Dance”‘s footage. For the truly deep Hello Project fan, there’s even a short scene with Kanazawa Tomoko bullying up on Miyamoto Karin and Takagi Sayuki which should give a chuckle. “Jidanda Dance / Feel Kanjiru yo” will dance its way to stores on April 26, 2017.